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TO THE ELECTORS 
O r Franklin, Patrick, Htunj* and Bedford. 

v 

Fjpi «-ow-Citize«s: 

To give a detailed view of each question that tomes before the national 
legislature, will not be expected; I doubt whether it would lie possible 
from the magnitude and variety of the subjects that are daily arising to 
do so within the usual limits of a letter; but having enjoyed uniform good 
health, and thereby enabled to vote on every measure that has been acted 
on since I was a member of Congress, I can stsite im vote on each sub- 
ject, and the reasons which governed me, n required) so to do. Influ- 
enced by these considerations, this letter will be principally devoted to 
political and statistical views of the United States. Several of ffiy con- 
stituents have requested of me this course, and I am sensible of its pro- 
priety. A war bar pn\ ailed for some time between Russia and the Ot- 
toman Porte; but from present appearances, its flames will not reach any 
of the other pones s of Europe; on the contrary, we have reason to be- 
lieve the other greaj powers will continue aloof therefrom, until an op- 
portunity shall arise to enable them to act '.he part of mediators. As yet 
our commerce has sustained v.o loss from this war, nor is it likely that it 
-will, die theatre of hostile opciaiionc l>emg principally on the Black sea 
and in the interior of the country; and we may well anticipate, that nei- 
ther France or Great Britaii would look with indifference on military 
operations in the .Archipelago, whereby then' commeice, as well as ours, 
might and would be subjected to great and certain loss. This war has 
already had a considerable influence on the price of our bread stud's; and 
it is believed by me, thai should it continue another \ear, that influence 
Mill bo treatly increased, not that our bread stuffs will be sent to the 
combatants — for the war prevails in the most fertile regions of Europe — 
'he regioir from which many of the northern and other markets of Eu> 
< p" have heretofore been supplied; but ov the contrary, our bread stuffs 

11 be sent to those places which were *'ont heretofore to be supplied 
iVi.m the borders of the Black sea. I oay be mistaken, but it seems to 
me, that s.iould peace be speedily madi between Russia and the Ottoman 
Porte, we may still calcilate on a god price for our surplus wheat the 
ensuing year, for we knew that t|i< crops of the last year have partially 
lVded n a brre portion off ':•' Hal Knrope. 



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Oar controversy, of su< i (Hug with Great l$ritaiuj 

northeastern boundai • is not yel settled; bi 

shortly will. In < | rnvisions of the i 

aud the c< nv< ntioi ..■ •■' ,| . N< 'In rlai 

both bj Greal Bi itaiu an< irbitrj 

between as. The preside i uicatioi u 

opening of the pre*< nt sess on, " 1 be proposal to him" 
Netherlands,) '* to ncc< pt live desiu nation for the performance ot tins 
friend)} urine, will be made at an ear)\ day, and die I nitcd States, rely- 
ing upon the justice of their cause, will cfieeKtiUy commit the arbitra- 
ment of it to ;i Brince equall) distingui fur the indVpeudi fi« •< <,|' big 
spirit, his indefatigabh assiduity to the duuw of his station, and his 'in- 
flexible personal pr bity" 

V. ith Fraiur our comnWrc< has lucre" sed ; and heii g p( < .diacK bene- 
ficial to die section of enu.iiA 1 have the honour in part u> represent, I 



hope will be found inutiu 

of our eiti. ( i> for spoli; 



il\ advantageous to both nations. The claims 
;tions committed by the Brazilhans during the 
],, v. j between ilea: and the people of Buenos A^res, have in part 
been paid Is the gqvernnenj of Brazil, and the balance are in a train for 
final settlement; and I will add, that the claims of our citizens on Den- 
mark for spoliations on our Ann mem that occurn tl during the wars that 
grew out of the Fit m !i revnjuiion. have in ) art been paid, and satisfac- 
tion is promised to all ; and no doubt i> entertained l>\ me that litis will 
be speedily done* Recent a&\ ices from France "encourage the expec- 
i that the appeal to ihc justice of tlie Picnch Government will ere 
lone rec< ive a favorabl • consideration," and tint our claims on them l«u 
depredations on our trade, at an era vvtieii the rights of neutral nations 
were wholly overlooked, whl be recognized aid Fettled. 

\ sclus-ive nfmonej received under the tonvtntjon with Great Bm 
f ,|,« I3ili Nov. 1826, then was in the peasu/y on the 1st Jan. J 

. j =3 cts. Tlie receipt- in the tryasurj up to 30th Sept. J 32! 
.. 33,580 _T cts. and it was estimated that the succeeding quar- 
ft ould uiajie up the sum of $24,094,863 6*3 cts. It is perhaps uu- 
SS an to state, thai the duties accruing oiie year are collected gem 
the next, the importers giving bonds fof the duty payable at tie 
expiration ol a given period I om t'.a execution of the bond. What tin 
; .„„ m ., of rev* nue n;. :\ be the next year, no one I thin!. :< rmint 

accural J i but it is Imped it will lie suflh ieot to support the govern- 
ment, >.ve. and enable us to np^ly, as heretofore, -'.nee 1819, the sum ol 
millions to th- discbarge pi the national debt. The exports of tl« 
I tiled Slates of oracle* raised bVoui elves in our own territory, aM&ny 
ourown labour in 1627, aim ante. tin value to Sj|58 21,1 91. Thus f 

, I, oil, spcnnnreij, &c. >\.:r t 5,332. From the forest, skins, 

I rs nseng, staves, lit r, board ■ ',, -. t;r, pitch, turpentine : '"d 
nav il stores, bark and dy< ,n >?0 prom agricullure^wtjeat, 



■tobacco an.! cotton principally, pork, bea, tallow, butler^ live stock, 
««gar, bopa, «j\, flaxseed, horses, mulesA&cc. &c. i - • 846,905^143; 
manufactures sti.4S;;.^4G : misjcgMauepus ttWHMQQ; marine a grand 
total as above nY $58,921 .O'.i l , of goods irexiously brought info ibe 
United States; from foreign conmri. tl|pra was re-exported in is27, 
to the amount ol .»'; J.5.-10.;,!:>6, making tie total amount of exports 
for that year $8*J^J4,827, and exceeding the imports 82,840,759. 
Our Mcporla are to every tpinVter of the globe, To give a bet- 
ter idea of the extent of our trade, and die almost boundless in- 
dustry and enterprise of our citizens, I subjoin a Ftatemt^ut of (he 
American coinmeree with China — * M;itei r ,-.. M t which 1 am assured b) 
commercial men approsinmtes jo acceracy. !i wttl I •■• korne in mind that 
a voyage to and from this distant region of the globe, requires at least 
•Re-yea? and ten months, though ii is sometimes . performed. iq a much 
shorter space of time. 

It appears that the exports from the United States to China! durinc 
the jear ending 30th .Tidy, 1827, amounted tq 84,243,617, ,of which 
only $1,844, 168 were in specie, and 4QQ,000 bills of exchange on Ku- 
rope; heaver, otter, fox, and other skins 252,,000 ; cotton and woollen 
goods, Si)5,000; lead, iron and copper, 2-.i,0:;:i ; quicksilver, 197,000; 
ginseng 06,0(10. During the same period the exports from China to the 
United States in 21 vessels, amounted to S lj4«)9,715 : of this sum $1,- 
903,000 were for teas, 92,000 for cassia, chiuaware, and matting; 1,556,- 
<>00 for silk poods. ' 

Thus we find that where man is, there is our f»M! — •'"'' 1 u '" a dd, 
it is every where r; -peeled — and well it maybe. It i- the record oi 
our national existence, independence and cjlory. The American tonnage 
engaged in the foreign* coasting, and i i - 1 1 i i . _ : .. ! .um\ be fairh estimated 
at 1, 100,000 tons. 

The American Navy consists -of a m els; of which there 

are seven ?4's, or ships of the line already aih : - *ev< n ! I"», or frigates 
of tlie first class afloat; lour of ti id < •! i~, io< ladinn the Pulton 

steam ship; twelve sloops of war; seven schooners, ami other vesteh. 
The 74*s afloat are- the Ltdrpendance, Franklin. Washington, Colum- 

l)iis, Ohio, North Carolina, and 1 )< law ., e— -tlie frigates alloat are die 
Constitution, Uniied States, Guenyiere, Jaya, Potomac. Brandywines 
and Hudson, Congress, Constellation, Macedonian, and Fulton — the 
sloops of war are the John Adam-, ( vane. Hornet, Erie, Ontarie, Pea- 
cook, Boston , Lexington, \ im-enm-, Vv a.j. •. \ chex, and Palaonth 
and others — the schooners are, among others, the Dolphin, Grampus, 
Porpoise, Shark, Fox, Alert and Sea Cull. At the present lime, nineteen 
of the above vessels are in ordinary, and twenty-one in commission. In 
addition, five ships of the lirje, six frigate*, an > four, sloops of war, are 
now building, and in a state of forwardness. The ('■ iistiintion, United 
States and Constellation, frigates, were launched in 17!»r. :1 ,td are d 



eldest vessels in il.e navy 1 ; tie Congrt »s and John . • i 1709; ■* 

Hornet In 1 P03, from whir' time till ]Pi:3, an interval of ten year*, m> 
public vesselwas built, foe Macedordan frigate, and Alert, sloop nf 
war. captorcd in that jMtr,Uare ever since remained in the navy. 

Every means 1»\ shelter and otherwise is resorted to, to presefve our 
vessel- of war from d»-csly. Of the ships at sea, a part are in rfie Medi- 
terranean — a part on the coat of Brazil — a part on rtie coast ol the W i 
Indies, iml the remaining squadron in the. Pacific. The object of (hose 
squadrons is the protection of ourc immerce. 

The vessels stated to be building* can l»e f-nish* ■■ ud pot afloat in 
ninety or one hnndred <\w *, should necessity reqi in . Thus \ou see, 
we have a highly respectable nav.il force; a force that in all our war 
have done Mien duty; a force drat fought it-elf' into favor. 

The piifnifatirm ofthe United States in 1790, was 3,981,426 ; in 1800, 
it was 5,319,762; in 1810, it amounted to 7,220,903 ; in 1S20, the 
population was 9,637,999; and at this time it is estimated at 12.500.000. 
This population is spread unequally over a territory of 1,009.1-4 \ square 
miles. Thus in Massachusetts they have upwards of seventy to the squatt 
mile, in Rhode Island sixty-three, in Connecticut sixty-one, in Virginia 
seventeen, in the District of Columbia three hundred and ninety-one; 
and in some states not more than 1 1, &:e. Fortunately such is the char- 
acter of the soils and climate> of our country, that it is capable of sustain- 
ing a population equal to that of half continental Europe; and if it be 
true, and it is believed to be so, that our present increase is near half a 
million annually, but a few years will roll rdund before, with the blessing 
of God, our numbers will equal that of the most numerous nation that 
now or ever did exist. 

Let u clirrr /„ ,,,/r happy and tfloriotu union, rare entangling alliances 
with none, do equal justice to all nations, frown iud-nanihjon hnmelunci uld 
cut our union asunder, if ami such there he, end should the ho<n tf adversity, 
an I trial come., yrp shall have nothing to fear, for that caunlnj is safe from 
all force whose shorts are defended Inj the imprtteriptibk principles of jus- 
tice and patriotism. 

The regalar force is O.lPd, divided into 1 1 regiments, four of artillery, 
seven of infantry, 8tc. This force is distributed along the seaboard, and 
on the inland frontier, to preserve the defences or fortifications (erected 
with so much labour and expense) from dilapidation — and which fortifi- 
cations, in the event of future war, will so eminently relieve the militia, 
and contribute to the general safety of the country. H\ partial returns 
made at various times, from 182:5 to 1827. the militia of the I nite.; 
States anpears to be 1,205,41. , but this, I hesitate not to pronounce 
manifestly erroneous. If we adopt the opinions of the fflOSt apprr. red 
writers on such subjects, we <n\ that the persons subject to militia duty 
in the linted States, after making all necessary deductions from le^a! 
exemption, amounts to at least one million ami ■ half. I believe the 



number is, if any thing, v tiii greater*; for uniformly it will be found, that 
more than a si x 1 1 1 of all communities are persons capable of bearing 



arms. 



The number of invalid pensioners on the 14th October, 1828, wa- 
3,780. The number of non-commissioned officers and privates, pension- 
ers under the act of 18th March, 1818, was 11,919 ; officers under same 
act of 18th March, 1818, was 309. Of the revolutionary and invalid 
pensioners, 516 were taken bom the list b\ death during the year ending 
4th Sept. 1828 Returns were not made from Virginia and live other 
states, nor were they made from the territories — which, when made, will 
swell the list of deaths considerably. Thns we see how rapidly the rem- 
nants of I gallant and glorious bahd of patriots and soldiers are passing 
off the stage to that country from whose bourn no traveller has ere vet 
returned — leaving ns bought hut the memory of their sufferings, their 
victories, their glory, and their bright example. The national debt on 
the first of January "next, will be $58,362,135 78 cts. and if, as has been 
the case since 181!), ten millions should be regularly and annually ap- 
plied to its payment, it will be. soon discharged; an event to be mo-t 
devoutly desired. For a loner time 1 he interest was so onerous that little 
could be applied to the principal. It is now reduced, so that every payment 
makes a material diminution and admonishes us of its finnl discharge. 

An exploring ship is about to sail to the seas that encircle the southern 
pole. Persons eminently skilled in botany, astronomy, and mineralogy, will 
be of the expedition ; and we may calculate on the event of its fortunate 
return, that a new theatre will be pointed out to the genius and enter- 
prize of our citizens, and the boundaries of astronomical and natural 
geography greatly enlarged. The Peacock ship of war, commanded by 
Capt. Jones, has been designated by the Secretary of the Navy to this 
service. 

The following statement shows the increase and present condition of 
the post office department: 

fears. Post QJ Revetme. ■'■'■ of Pott Ji 

[ql792 J 95 $67,444 5,642 

1797 554" 213,998 16,180 

IS02 hi 14 327,045 25,315 

1807 1,848 478,703 33,7*5 

IS 12 2,610 643,208 39,376 

1817 3,459 1,002,973 olMM 

iS23 e'g. July lst4,49S 1,114,344 82,7«3 

1828 7,661 1,598,134 1 1 4.536 

The above exhibit shows an augmentation oi annual revenue within five 
years, ending 1st July, 1828, of $483,790, a sum rx.v, -din-: My 813^65 
a similar increase for eleven years preceding 18£3, am* falling short 
only $105,418, of being equal to the total revenue of Hie Department 
in 1812. Within the same time there has been established 3,153 addition- 



6 



al post offices; being a greater number than was in operation in Lb 
United St a teg in tin- year i81u. 

Some pains have been taken to ascertain the exact number of persons 
employer! by Hie Department, inc lading Postmasters, Assistant Rost- 
nj.t-1 ■!--. Clerk, Contractors, mid persons engaged in transporting the 
mail, and although only partial returns have been received, it i* believed 
the. total niinJicr i> about twenty-six thousand, nine hundred and lift\- 

\. There art about seventeen tiiuti^nnd five hundred and eighty-four 
horses ein/>bi> eel, and two thousand eight hundred and -< \ i Rty-niue car- 
rirnresi including two hundred and forty-three sulkies and wagons. 

It is Known thai llie people at large take a deep interest in this de 
paiMnnr. of the government, and wtell iIk y may. Besides the informa- 
tion, literary and political, that it dieses over the country, there are iew, 
if any, to whom it does not at one time or another furnish the means of 
epistolary conversation v. itb relations ami friends-, and it affords me 
pleasure to say; a> !'ar ;i> 1 am capable of judging, it is managed bv th' 
post-master-grneral vvfiJi prreat ability. 

We enjoy peaco with all nation-, and have in prospect a longcontiuu- 
nnce oi" thai blessing. What ciliisen who beholds, our increase in popu- 
lation and resource- for defence,, who contemplates our star-spangled 
banner wavinp on every sea — who recognizes in every object that meets 
bis eye or solemnises his thonu-his evidences of an independence — founded 
on a sure and broajd basis, who can perfectly appreciate the thousand ties 
besides a commjon language, auc<>trv and glory, which will forever save 
us from those political disrupting that might endanger onr union. Who 
does not feel bis bosom srlow v> idi gratitude to the ruler of the world that 
he i^ an American • itiaen ? noue,, eo not one. 

Having exhibited the foregoing political and statistical views. I wit! 
proceed to other neuters. 

So l'w this may be said to be a business Congress, for in truth a 
great deal has been dour. V et a detail would be dull ami uninteresting'. 
{ have endeavoured, b> distributing in various neighbourhoods in m\ 
District public documents And newspapers, to give information as to the 
businc s transacted, and the votes 1 have given; and if I have succeeded 

cording to my wishes ariv tiring further woalH be superfluous. 

Some attempts were made to modify the existing tariff, but they all 
failed. Ft is true that the revenue this year has not suffered bj the tariff 
of 1828; but ii <>;: ^ !i t to be renumbered that in anticipation of the pas- 
sage o\ that tariff an unexampled mass of goods were poured into the 
country, n.nl tJi.it the importations since have been much le>-, can be 
proven to demonstration ; and should the diminished importations con- 
tinii", ;^ -o.K- believe v. ill he base, it max lehd to a inodificiiim of the 
tariff. N ay, 1 itelieve that those who are die most favour il<l\ -inclined 
to the law oi l&2£, would part with it sooner than resort to the lightest 
din et tax. I he »w»cpssarv result of the lavt was to flood the conntrv 



wit! re its onerous burdens began to operate, and of course to 

/ik en venue. This was clearly foreseen. One month previous 

to * ' oing into operation, the importations into New York were 

neai t as ever had been in the like space of lime. My opinions 

on ect of a tariff are well known, and it is unnecessary to repeat 

th will only add, that without regards t!ie )uU:rltr frum whence it 

m< &me, I shall feel bound to vote for every proposition that seeks 10 
br back to such amount as is sufficient to support the government, 

an i are for the defence of die country, and pay off tiiC public dehis 
in a onabie time. Every duty that is laid is a tax on him who e»:i- 
su ^ei »e article on which it is imposed; and some of the duties are 
f ' ihlv by my constituents. Fortunately, we may in a great meas- 

, from us many of the evils .lowing from the protecting system. 
We 'd raise our horses and hogs, increase the number of our sheep, 

cultivate nore cotton and flax, and as far as in our power, manufacture 
our own clothing. Economy is just as commendable in one situation as 
in another. • It is equally laudable in the legislator and in the private 
citizen. It gives strength to gover.ifmeut, and independence to indi- 
viduals. So strongly am I impressed with t'r truth of these remarks, 
that if I have lost sight of the obligation to b p while I have 

been your representative I am not conscious ,s precisely 

the same thing in private and public life. ' .-ist exclusively 

i"i husbanding money, bai in : ie profitable > ,i a national point 

of view it is true ecu ay to provide p . time of peact — that 

is the season to fo passes in.o tin . v, to enlarge tlie navy, 

and lay up the means o. defence. To avoid aggression and insult, we 
must be in a situath to meet and repel it — and we must look forward 
and count the c h njd the vicissitudes of the world for the interrupt 

tion of our ti 

It is true for the government to take no more by taxes frouj 

the people than will mswer those jgreat purposes just enumerated, suppori 
the govern id pay the public debt; all beyond this should be left 

with the p 10 be applied by a profitable economy to enlarging th< ii 

flocks, imp* ving their fields and their house-, therein- increasing their 
eomforts and the comforts of posterity. J might appeal to th,' Gdelit\ 
of legislators and to the affection of fathers, and ask, air th -' re 
marks just.'' It hasdreen said by politi< al writers, that luxury, corruption, 
and large standing armies, have led to the decadence of free govern rnehi 
wherever they have prevailed; and no doubt they have; but there ai : 
other agents just ;*> (ni-cbievotu, just a- fatal t<> ("r governments, to »jt: 
patronage, and a profuse expenditure of public rooneVi |, ; government 
be administered by wham it may, believe me, ir will not do tu have th. 
private fortunes the entire (tesiiuics of too main individual united to tin 
destinies of the government 'n official and fiscal relationship— government 
is like every thing else that is the *ork of man, iin • I j prone u 



" 



occasional error. Our forefathers !. .. . th<*se at? 

berrationa, \\lnu tbej occur, can be corrected} the;, hove told as tint thi- 
blessiugs of free aovernroeDI can alone !><■ | I bj a frequent r*vur- 

reace to fiial prim iples; which I understand to mean, look to the ( .i ti- 
iiuinri. and abide by its tetter; it i> the grant of power, and do n x tran- 
scend it. 

What may be the political excitemi uts< '- when I will not pretend to 
say; but up to thk moment th« deliberations of Congress this .-.>ion 
have be. n calm an. I dignhitJ. and there -<vm< to hi ;i general dwposi- 
tion to bow to the clearh expressed will nl lb* majority at the last elec- 
tion, and the new administration wiH tjo into operation with «1« • prayers 
of goad men of all parties for its mai'igement Of the public affairs in such 
a w,i\ as to advance the prosperity, happiness, and glory of these eonfc 
derated republics. 

Pellow-citixens: I again tender you my services in the national l^iris-- 
latum I am grateful for tlw honor- you have heretofore bestowed on 
me, and I have emlea\ored to deserve them by performing my duties to 
the best of my abilities. 

The tftrst is important — in it- discharge I may have committed errors: 
lor to err is human; but. havimr done my be<t, I cheerfully submit my 
pretensions to the arbitraim ut of a irenerous, magnanimous, and enligh- 
tened people; and if elected, will, as heretofore, contribute my might to 
preserve the principles of our happy Constitution, and hand them to pos- 
teritv as we inherit then; from our fathers of revolutionary times. 
Accept, fellow-citizens, the homage of my most resj xtful consideration. 



.WTI'AMKL H, CLAIBORNE. 



mtskingUM City, Dec. 20, 1828. 



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